NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS TO EQUATIONS

-LOCATE APPROXIMATELY A ROO T OF AN EQUATION BY GRAPHICAL MEANS OR FINDING SIGN CHANGE

ROOTS OF EQUATIONS

Frequently in Maths we need to solve equations, we have methods to solve linear, quadratic and cubic equations but what
about other forms? We can rearrange equations to take the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, and if we graph this, the roots (or solutions) are
where the graph intersects the x-axis. If we look at a cubic graph, for example, we can see that either side of the root the graph
has the opposite sign.

We can therefore say that if a graph is continuous and has opposite signs at 𝑓(𝑝) and 𝑓(𝑞) then there must be at least one root
between p and q.

We can use this understanding to find an approximation of the root:

EXAMPLE

Show that the equation 𝑥 3 = 𝑥 + 1 has a root between 1 and 2, and find this root correct to 2 decimal places.

Firstly we need to rearrange the equation so that it becomes 𝑓(𝑥) = 0:

𝑥3 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0

Now substituting for 1 and 2:

𝑓(1) = −1
𝑓(2) = 5

Therefore we know there is a solution between 1 and 2, because the value of 𝑓(𝑥) is close to 0 at 𝑥 = 1, it is best to look closer
to this value than to 𝑥 = 2

Substituting for 1.2 and 1.5

𝑓(1.2) = −0.472
𝑓(1.5) = 1.375
Converging:
𝑓(1.4) = 0.744
𝑓(1.3) = −0.103
We now know that the answer lies between 1.3 and 1.4

We can now look for the next decimal place:

𝑓(1.31) = −0.062
𝑓(1.32) = −0.02
𝑓(1.33) = 0.02

Therefore the root lies between 1.32 and 1.33, correct to 2 dp.

Exercise 10A, Page 65

UNDERSTAND/USE NOTATION FOR A SEQUENCE OF APPROXIMATIONS WHICH CONVERGES TO A ROOT OF AN
EQUATION
UNDERSTAND HOW 𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝑭(𝒙𝒏 ) RELATES TO AN EQUATION BEING SOLVED
USE A GIVEN ITERATION OR AN ITERATION BASED ON A GIVEN REARRANGE MENT OF AN EQUATION TO FIND A
ROOT TO A GIVEN ACCURACY
UNDERSTAND THAT AN ITERATION MAY FAIL TO CONVERGE

FINDING ROOTS BY ITE RATION

Finding roots by iteration involves making a trial or guess and then learning from this attempt so that we can make an
improvement. If we wish to solve an equation 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 by an iterative method, we need to find a relationship 𝑥𝑟+1 = 𝐹(𝑥𝑟 )
such that 𝑥𝑟+1 is a better approximation to the solution of the equation than 𝑥𝑟 .

EXAMPLE
1
Show that the equation 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1 = 0 has a root between 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑥 = 3. Using the rearrangement 𝑥 = 3 − , and an
𝑥
initial value of 𝑥 = 3, use an iterative method to find this root correct to two decimal places.

If 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1 then 𝑓(2) = −1 and 𝑓(3) = 1. The change in sign of 𝑓(𝑥) between 𝑥 = 2 and 3 shows that there is a
solution.

1 1
From the rearranged form 𝑥 = 3 − , we use the iterative formula 𝑥𝑟+1 = 3 − , with 𝑥0 = 3
𝑥 𝑥𝑟+1

1
𝑥1 = 3 − = 2.6667
3
1
𝑥2 =3− = 2.6250
2.6667
1
𝑥3 =3− = 2.6190
2.6250
1
𝑥4 =3− = 2.6182
2.6190
1
𝑥5 =3− = 2.6181
2.6182

Thus the required root is 𝑥 = 2.62, correct to two decimal places.

We cannot assume that this method will always work for example:

Find the root to the equation 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 4 = 0, using 𝑥0 = 1. We can rearrange this equation in more than one way:

1
𝑥𝑟+1 = 3√(4 − 2𝑥𝑟 𝑥𝑟+1 =(4 − (𝑥𝑟 )3 )
2
𝑥 = 1.5, 0.3125, 1.9847, −1.9089, 5.4779
𝑥 = 1.2599, 1.1397 1.193, 1.1704, 1.1839, 1.1774, 1.18

Therefore it does not converge.

Therefore 𝑥 = 1.18 correct to 2 dp

EXERCISE 10B, PAGE 69